Story and plot

Forster
defines
story as the
chronological
sequence of
events.
 Manfred Jahn gives the following definition of
story:
A sequence of events and actions involving
characters.

‘Events’ generally include natural and non

natural happenings like floods or car accidents;
‘action’ more specifically refers to wilful acts by
characters.
 -The crocodile eats
breakfast.
-Fred jumped out of
bed.
-The king died.

For instance
Identify the sentences below and decide whether they are
categorized as story…..or not.

The king died and then the queen died.

C
o
m
P
a
r
e

The house has blue shutters.

Plot Like links in a chain, each
event hooks our curiosity
and pulls us forward to
 A sequence of the next event.
events, causally
related
 the causal and
logical structure
which connects
events
 What happens in
the story
Identifying the
Elements of A
Plot Diagram
Plot Diagram
3

4
2
1
5
 1. Exposition
 This usually occurs at the beginning of a short
story. Here:
o the characters are introduced.
o We also learn about the setting of the story.
o Most importantly, we are introduced to the main
conflict (main problem).
 2. Rising Action
 This part of the story begins to
develop the conflict(s). A building
of interest or suspense occurs.
 3. Climax
 This is the turning point of the story.
Usually the main character comes
face to face with a conflict. The
main character will change in some
way.
4. Falling Action
 Allloose
ends of the
plot are tied
up. The
conflict(s)
and climax
are taken
care of.
 5. Resolution
 The story
comes to a
reasonable
ending.
Forster’s examples to illustrate the difference between story and plot
are:

The king died and

then the queen died
Story

plot The king died and then the

queen died of grief.
Putting It All Together
1. Exposition
Beginning of
2. Rising Action Story

3. Climax Middle of Story

4. Falling Action
End of
5. Resolution/ Story

denouement
Some kinds of Plot
1.Based on time order:

Linear, the story continues from the start to the

end of the story.

In this story, we can understand what the main

topic in the story because the scenes run
continuously.

First Second Third Last

Foreshadowing, the story tells about the next events,
but one time tells about one problem to another problem,
and then tells about the first thing that has been told again at
the first story.

Foreshadowing is the use of clues to hint at events

that will occur later in the plot.

• Foreshadowing can make a story more exciting by

increasing suspense.
 Flashback
Flashback—a scene that interrupts the present action
of the plot to flash backward and tell what happened
at an earlier time. Flashbacks can
• provide background
information Present

• strengthen our
understanding of a
character
Past
 Flash-Forward
Flash-Forward—a scene that interrupts the present
action of the plot to shift into the future.
• Flash-forwards can create
dramatic irony. The Present
readers know what will
happen in the future, but
the characters don’t.

Future
 2. Based on the criteria of number

Single plot is the story that only shows one

protagonist,
The story only follow that character.

Multiple plot is the story that shows more than one

protagonist, the journey of their life are displayed.
 3. Based on the events relation:

Tight plot is fast grooved story, events occur after

other, every part is crucial and decisive.

Loose plot is long events relation of story, displayed

slowly .
 4. Based on the termination manner:

Closed plot is the appearance of the story that is

terminated of certainty or clearly.
Open plot is the appearance of the story that is
terminated uncertainty, ending of the story is
given to the readers’ imagination.
What is Conflict?
A clash between opposing forces, usually
forcing the main character into a
dilemma.
 the struggle or clash between opposing
characters.
Sometimes, writers might manipulate time to control
our emotions. They might

• slow down time to

emphasize a moment of
danger
• speed up time to skip over
events that don’t move the
story along
Four Types of Conflict

(1) Individual Conflict:

One person in
opposition with
another
Typically the simplest
and least interesting
kind of conflict
 Types of Conflict

 (2) Social conflict:

– one person vs. a larger
group;
– Almost always present
and significant
Types of Conflict

 (3) Natural conflict

– Typically, this kind of
conflict involves some
form of nature;
– Depending on one’s
perspective, it could
be a conflict with
God.
firefighter vs. fire

or
Types of Conflict
 (4) Self:
– A person in
conflict with
himself;
– Generally, the most
interesting and
significant when it
is present;
– Often the person
in conflict doesn’t
realize it.
Characters struggle
with themselves
to make
decisions.